Chronic renal failure

For the purposes of applying the Macular Degeneration RH SOP, the RMA defines moderate to severe chronic renal failure to mean 'a glomerular filtration rate which is consistently less than 60 millilitres per minute'.

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a specific clinical test used to measure renal function.  GFR can be measured using 24 hour urine collection and serum creatinine measurement, but it is more commonly estimated using serum creatinine measurement and certain patient variables such as age, race, sex, height and weight.  In some cases an estimated GFR (eGFR) may not be reliable, but it would be expected that the treating doctor would recognise these circumstances.  Therefore, for the purpose of applying the SOP either a GFR or eGFR will generally suffice.  This information can be obtained via the specific medical questionnaire in CCPS.

GFR/eGFR refers to the volume of fluid filtered from the renal glomerular capillaries into the Bowman's capsule (part of the kidney) per unit time.  For males, a normal GFR is in the range of 97- 137 ml/min, and for women, 88 – 128 ml/min.

Last reviewed for CCPS 27 April 2010.

Preliminary questions [41146]

23196 there is some evidence that chronic renal failure may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

17975 the veteran has had moderate to severe chronic renal failure at some time.

41177 the veteran's chronic renal failure satisfies the definition of being moderate to severe as specified in the Statement of Principles for macular degeneration.

41178  the veteran has established the causal connection between moderate to severe chronic renal failure and operational service for the clinical onset of macular degeneration.

Clinical onset and operational service [41178]

9231     the veteran had moderate to severe chronic renal failure before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

629        the chronic renal failure is causally related to operational service.